# US 2021/0274964 A1 · Espresso machine with dosing mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0274964 A1 - Document ID: US20210274964A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/612,990 - Filed: 2018-05-14 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-12 - Assignees: Newell Australia Pty Ltd - Applicants: Sunbeam Corporation Pty Ltd - Inventors: Timothy Edward Gulliver; Maxim K. Guyatt; Mark James Whitcombe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210274964A1 ## CPC - A47J 31/461: {Valves, e.g. drain valves} - A47J 31/36: with mechanical pressure-producing means - A47J 31/44: Parts or details {or accessories} of beverage-making apparatus (filters or strainers A47J31/06) - A47J 31/4489: {Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk} - A47J 31/469: {Details of hydraulic circuits} - A47J 31/5255: {of flow rate} - A47J 31/30: with hot water under steam pressure - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract An espresso machine is provided that utilizes a mechanical valve in addition to a flow meter. This results in a low-cost espresso machine while delivering a measured volume of water for the espresso pour. The mechanical valve facilitates a machine with both selectable espresso pour and steam and/or hot water outlets. In this embodiment, the espresso machine utilizes a shared pump and water heater (e.g., a thermoblock, boiler or similar) for multiple functions and/or through different outlets. For example, water from the reservoir may be sent through the flow meter to the pump, then to the water heater, and eventually to either the grouphead or steam wand, or to a pressure release. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An espresso machine comprising: a user interface for selecting a mode of operation; a pump; a water heater in fluid communication with the pump; a flow meter for monitoring a volume of water; and a mechanical valve assembly in fluid communication with the water heater, said mechanical valve assembly including at least two of the following mechanical valves for routing fluid from the water heater: (a) a first valve for selectively opening and closing fluid communication to a brewing mechanism; (b) a second valve for selectively opening and closing fluid communication to atmosphere; and (c) a third valve for selectively opening and closing fluid communication to a steam wand or hot water outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The espresso machine of claim 1, wherein the mechanical valve assembly includes the first valve and at least one of the second and third valves, and wherein one mode of operation is a brewing mode, in which the first valve is selectively opened and the remaining valves are selectively closed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The espresso machine of claim 1, wherein the mechanical valve assembly includes the third valve and at least one of the first and second valves, and wherein one mode of operation is a steam or hot water mode, in which the third valve is selectively opened and the remaining valves are selectively closed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The espresso machine of claim 2, wherein the mechanical valve assembly includes the second valve and at least one of the first and third valves, and wherein one mode of operation is an “off” mode, in which the second valve is selectively opened and the remaining valves are selectively closed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The espresso machine of claim 1, wherein the valves are opened and closed via a rotary valve cam shaft which is mechanically coupled to a rotatable dial which operates as the user interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The espresso machine of claim 4, wherein the mechanical valve assembly includes the first, second and third valves and, upon changing a selection of the mode of operation from the brewing mode to the “off” mode, the first valve and the second valve are selectively opened and the third valve is selectively closed by a rotary valve cam shaft, thereby allowing venting of pressure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The espresso machine of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of switches and a microcontroller, wherein the switches are responsive to the rotary valve cam shaft to communicate the position of the shaft to a microcontroller, different positions of the shaft are encoded by the switches being in a particular state, and the microcontroller is adapted to distinguish between these different positions based on a previous position of the shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The espresso machine of claim 5, wherein each valve in the valve assembly includes a valve tappet having a follower end, which is spring biased against a cam of the camshaft, and a valve head, and the valve assembly includes a valve block defining valve cylinders within which the valve tappets reciprocate between open and closed positions on valve seats in response to rotation of the camshaft, the valve assembly further including a valve block cover which defines a valve chamber in conjunction with the valve block, the valve chamber selectively communicating via the valve cylinders with the atmosphere, a brewing mechanism and a steam wand or hot water outlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The espresso machine of claim 1, wherein the pump is shut down upon detection of a predetermined volume of water through the flow meter. ### Claim 10 An espresso machine comprising: a user interface for allowing a user to select a mode of operation from at least one of a standby/ready mode and a coffee brew mode; a pump; a thermoblock in fluid communication with the pump for supplying heated water to a grouphead; a flow meter for monitoring a flow rate of water flowing into the thermoblock; a temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature of the thermoblock; and a controller configured to control power supplied to the thermoblock such that: when the espresso machine is in the standby/ready mode, the power supplied to the thermoblock is controlled based on the temperature of the thermoblock; and when the espresso machine is in the coffee brew mode, the power supplied to the thermoblock is controlled at least partly dependent on a flow rate measured by the flow meter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The espresso machine of claim 10, wherein the coffee brew mode comprises a pre-infusion stage and an extraction stage, and the controller is further configured to control power supplied to the pump such that: during the pre-infusion stage, the power provided to both the thermoblock and the pump is controlled at least partly dependent on the flow rate measured by the flow meter; and during the extraction stage, the power provided to the thermoblock is controlled at least partly dependent on the flow rate measured by the flow meter and the power provided to the pump corresponds to 100% of a duty cycle of the pump. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The espresso machine of claim 10, wherein the coffee brew mode comprises a pre-infusion stage and an extraction stage, and the controller is further configured to control power supplied to the pump such that: during the pre-infusion stage, the power provided to the thermoblock is controlled at least partly dependent on the flow rate measured by the flow meter, and the power provided to the pump is predetermined; and during the extraction stage, the power provided to the thermoblock is controlled at least partly dependent on the flow rate measured by the flow meter and the power provided to the pump corresponds to 100% of a duty cycle of the pump. ### Claim 13 A steam wand assembly for an espresso machine, the steam wand assembly comprising: a steam wand tube; and an over-moulded ball moulded over the steam wand tube at a location proximate an upper end of the steam wand tube, and a ball receiving assembly defining a socket for receiving the ball, the ball receiving assembly being mountable to an espresso machine to movably secure the steam wand tube to the espresso machine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The steam wand assembly of claim 13 further comprising a movement restrictor that limits freedom of rotation of the steam wand tube about its longitudinal axis or an axis intersecting a radial centre of the ball receiving assembly defining the socket for receiving the ball. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The steam wand assembly of claim 13, wherein: the ball receiving assembly comprises: a bracket having a first concave receiving surface and configured to be detachably fixed to the espresso machine, and a housing having a second concave receiving surface and configured to be detachably fixed to the bracket and/or the espresso machine; the over-moulded ball has a substantially spherical surface; and each of the first and second concave receiving surfaces have a complemental substantially spherical dome shape such that, in an assembled state, the ball is received by both the first and second concave receiving surfaces. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The steam wand assembly of claim 15, wherein the movement restrictor comprises: a protrusion formed on the substantially spherical surface of the over-moulded ball, the protrusion having side faces aligned with the longitudinal axis of the steam wand tube and an outer face that is substantially spherical and concentric with the ball center; and corresponding recesses formed in the first and second concave receiving surfaces of the housing and bracket, respectively, to accommodate the protrusion section, each corresponding recess comprising: a substantially spherical recess surface that complements the outer face of the protrusion, and side faces with an angular off-set greater than an angular off-set between the side faces of the protrusion such that the steam wand tube is able to rotate about its longitudinal axis by the difference between the two angular off-sets. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The steam wand assembly of claim 14 further comprising an inner flexible steam tube extending through the steam wand tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The steam wand assembly of claim 15, wherein a mould partline on the over moulded ball is recessed from the substantially spherical surface of the ball. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The steam wand assembly of claim 13, wherein the steam wand tube is provided with a textured surface that keys the over-moulded ball to the steam wand tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The steam wand assembly of claim 13, wherein the steam wand tube is stainless steel and the over moulded ball is polyoxymethylene. ### Claim 21 A method of manufacturing a steam wand assembly for an espresso machine, the method comprising: providing a cylindrical steam wand tube; and over moulding a ball over the steam wand tube at a location proximate an upper end of the steam wand tube. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the steam wand tube is provided with a textured surface that keys the over moulded ball to the steam wand tube.